Baby Barista
Designing Comfort for Sleep-Deprived Parents
Baby Barista is a smart formula mixer and dispenser, complete with an app, for parents. The goal was to design something for those times when parents are stressed and tired. They need something they can count on, easy to understand, and quick to use. I led the product ux and branding to make a product parents could depend on (especially at 2 a.m). The aim was to balance how it feels to use with how well it works.
Project Snapshot
Role Lead UX/UI, Branding, and Visual
Timeline 2015 — 2016
Users Parents, Caregivers, Pediatricians
Scope Physical product UX, companion mobile app, packaging, branding
Outcome One-handed bottle prep in 30 seconds, high user confidence, strong brand trust
Scale Integrated product, digital, and branding experience
Initial Findings
Nighttime feedings are a tough thing for new parents. The formula products on the market are not easy to use when it’s dark. They're often not dependable, and the controls can be confusing. So, instead of making things easier, they made things harder. Parents didn’t feel good about using a device that was supposed to feed their baby. It was clear that there wasn’t a product that worked well and also made parents feel good about using it.
Formula Dispensers on the market at the time
What We Had to Solve
Our challenge was to make a product that made preparing a bottle feel simple and reliable, no matter what. We didn’t just want something that was easy to use. We wanted to create confidence: being able to use it with one hand in dim light; getting the temperature and nutrition right every time; and an app that made things easier, not harder.
How Might We
Make bottle prep easier so parents feel supported, not stressed?
How Might We
Balance how it feels with how well it works?
How Might We
Design a product and brand that parents trust every time they use it?
How We Tackled It
Rather than starting with aesthetics, we reframed the problem around emotional reassurance and usability. We interviewed new parents, single caregivers, and pediatric experts. The results showed that parents valued confidence and calm even more than raw speed.
Guided Product Strategy
We began by shifting the thinking of Baby Barista not just as a cold device on the kitchen counter, but as a helper for parents. So, we focused on how it made them feel: supported, confident, and in charge. To do this, the design, app, and packaging teams all worked together. The main idea was to make parents feel good and keep things simple, not just make something with great tech. This helped us decide which features were most important for parents in their daily lives.
Formula Dispensers on the market at the time
Redefined Usability
User testing showed that parents needed something super easy to use during those late-night feedings as well as juggling millions thing during the day. So, we made the dispenser ready a bottle in 30 seconds with just one hand. The buttons, lights, and sounds were all planned to help parents without waking them up too much. By checking every little thing against this sleepy-time need, we made a product that parents could count on when they were tired.
Wireframes for Screen on Device
Elevated the App from Utility to Personalization
Early concepts treated the app as a remote control, but qualitative research showed parents wanted something more meaningful. So, we turned it into a tool that helps them feel confident. They can set feeding times, change nutrition options, and even start the dispenser without hands just using the app. This made the app a key feature, giving families more control and a sense of calm and trust. It became a real helper in taking care of their baby.
Workflow to change temperature, nutrition, and make a bottle
App Wireframes
Hi-fi App Design
User testing interacting with design prototypes
Unified Brand Expression
We made sure the brand's message was the same on the device, in the app, and on the box. The design of the device had the same curves and gentle colors as the app. The packaging showed the product as something comforting, not just a piece of tech. This made everything flow together nicely from the moment of opening the box to using it every day. Every part of the experience built trust and warmth, making Baby Barista feel like a member of the family.
Visual Directions
Logo Mockup
The Outcome
The product lets parents make a bottle at the desired temperature and nutrition with one hand in 30 seconds. Testing showed that it worked well in stressful situations. Parents rated their “confidence in nutrition delivery” twice as high as before, and most liked Baby Barista better than the other options. The consistent design across the device, app, and packaging made it feel dependable.
30 seconds
to Create a Perfect Bottle
1-handed
Interface and Mobile App
What I Learned
The product lets parents make a bottle at the desired temperature and nutrition with one hand in 30 seconds. Testing showed that it worked well in stressful situations. Parents rated their “confidence in nutrition delivery” twice as high as before, and most liked Baby Barista better than the other options. The consistent design across the device, app, and packaging made it feel dependable.
